Watch: Sturridge v. Fulham

Liverpool's match against Fulham on Sunday may have started out a little anemically, with two sides already relatively certain of their final table position trading possession and showing little cutting edge in the attacking third. However, a pair of stellar individual performances for Liverpool would soon give the visiting Reds the edge at Craven Cottage, with Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge key to an eventual 3-1 victory.

In the absence of Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez, Liverpool's two newest signings carried the attack, and both were contenders for Man of the Match. It was Sturridge, though, who impressed most, the striker never less than energetic as he scored a hat-trick for his determined play and constant trickery, elevating what could have been a very dull match into one that—for Liverpool fans—instead proved almost wholly satisfying.

On occasion he still showed flashes of the selfish play that earned him a reputation at Chelsea, holding onto the ball for an extra touch or seven when a quick pass to the open man would have been the preferable option. Mostly, though, it was another match that highlighted the more rounded player he has generally been since arriving at Liverpool in January.

Add in three goals—two of them with his weaker right foot, and those two perhaps the best of the ten goals he has scored for Liverpool—and, any way you come at it, it was a very, very good day for Daniel Sturridge. The kind of day that, along with all his other very, very good days for Liverpool so far, makes his £12M transfer fee appear ever more a bargain.